United Kingdom Budget Short Cruise Tours & Packages Tours & Trips

What travelers are saying

"We used CIE for an amazing tour of Ireland. The food and the locals were amazing. Here is my issue: we were told that another CIE tour from Scotland would be joining us in Dublin. The majority of those travelers had some type of respiratory virus and joined our tour. Tour director knew they were sick as she pointed out pharmacies at every tour stop. Every scheduled breakfast, lunch or dinner was restricted to certain tables since we had limited reserved seating and that virus spread like wildfire among the original Dublin travelers. My understanding is that CIE has a policy that “sick” passengers are not permitted on the tour. My wife got the “sickness” and I got COVID. Ruined such an amazing place. I placed a customer service ticket with CIE on 21 May 2014 and have heard nothing back. I will probably see Bigfoot before a response."

What travelers are saying

"We used CIE for an amazing tour of Ireland. The food and the locals were amazing. Here is my issue: we were told that another CIE tour from Scotland would be joining us in Dublin. The majority of those travelers had some type of respiratory virus and joined our tour. Tour director knew they were sick as she pointed out pharmacies at every tour stop. Every scheduled breakfast, lunch or dinner was restricted to certain tables since we had limited reserved seating and that virus spread like wildfire among the original Dublin travelers. My understanding is that CIE has a policy that “sick” passengers are not permitted on the tour. My wife got the “sickness” and I got COVID. Ruined such an amazing place. I placed a customer service ticket with CIE on 21 May 2014 and have heard nothing back. I will probably see Bigfoot before a response."

What travelers are saying

"We used CIE for an amazing tour of Ireland. The food and the locals were amazing. Here is my issue: we were told that another CIE tour from Scotland would be joining us in Dublin. The majority of those travelers had some type of respiratory virus and joined our tour. Tour director knew they were sick as she pointed out pharmacies at every tour stop. Every scheduled breakfast, lunch or dinner was restricted to certain tables since we had limited reserved seating and that virus spread like wildfire among the original Dublin travelers. My understanding is that CIE has a policy that “sick” passengers are not permitted on the tour. My wife got the “sickness” and I got COVID. Ruined such an amazing place. I placed a customer service ticket with CIE on 21 May 2014 and have heard nothing back. I will probably see Bigfoot before a response."

What travelers are saying

"We used CIE for an amazing tour of Ireland. The food and the locals were amazing. Here is my issue: we were told that another CIE tour from Scotland would be joining us in Dublin. The majority of those travelers had some type of respiratory virus and joined our tour. Tour director knew they were sick as she pointed out pharmacies at every tour stop. Every scheduled breakfast, lunch or dinner was restricted to certain tables since we had limited reserved seating and that virus spread like wildfire among the original Dublin travelers. My understanding is that CIE has a policy that “sick” passengers are not permitted on the tour. My wife got the “sickness” and I got COVID. Ruined such an amazing place. I placed a customer service ticket with CIE on 21 May 2014 and have heard nothing back. I will probably see Bigfoot before a response."

What travelers are saying

"We purchased two backpacks from Rick Steves Europe. One of them arrived damaged and unusable. Their website says that you must contact them if you receive damaged merchandise. I have attempted to email them through their website and I have left 3 voicemails (nobody answers the phone, ever!) and nobody has contacted me back. At this point, it seems like I've been ripped off. Buyer beware. Extremely disappointed."

What travelers are saying

"We booked a National Geographic expedition Holland and Belgium by River. The promotional literature promised a 14-day deposit refund window. The “invoice” was marked “non-refundable” deposit. We completed the National Geographic Traveler Information. About 8 days later we received the “Travel Agreement” to be signed. We both approved and signed the National Geographic documents. A Cruise Line Travel agreement was enclosed but had no signature line. This document contained language which was unacceptable. We submitted the signed NatGeo documents. The following day we canceled the trip due to the unacceptable Cruise Line language. Cancellation was made 12 days after booking and no deposit was returned. We were told on the phone that the refund deadline was triggered by the 14 day window OR signatures on the Travel Agreement which ever came first. This was NEW information. To date, we have received NO refund of our $1000. We cancelled our trip within the advertised 14 day window."

What travelers are saying

"When I signed up for the Wonders of Costa Rica at a slower pace. The hotel listed in the itinerary for day 8&9 was a 4 star hotel on the beach called the Punta Leona. I'm not sure when but Road Scholar changed the Punta Leona hotel for the 3 star Villa Lapis Jungle hotel. I was shocked when we drove up to this dump. Others in the group wanted to leave and find another hotel. I had black bugs under that shower mat and the shower did not drain, Spiders on the wall and roaches coming out of the cracked in the bathroom. The bed was a thin mattress on a board and was hard as a rock. The food they put out was covered with a wrap but 15 minutes after the plastic wrap was removed it was covered with fruit flies. I passed on the open food bowls. The walls were real thin and the neighbors were real noisy until 11:30 pm. Others in the group complained about the late night noise, spiders and toilet seat being broken. I'm not sure where this place gets 3 stars. After I saw the roaches, I give it a 1 star. Road Scholar put us up in beautiful hotels and then they take us here. You can do better than this Road Scholar. The end the story, Road Scholar customer service called me about my concern and said they have never used the Punta Leona, (I sent her my itinerary that said PUNTA LEONA). She also said they haven't had any complaints about this Villa Lapis dump. After her call, I'm not sure if I'll ever travel with Road Scholar again. Enough said...."

What travelers are saying

"Our 8th OU tour was to Switzerland. We visited many sites in Switzerland, Austria and also a quick stop in Germany. O.U. takes all the stress away by using outstanding Tour Directors who handle everything. Our T. D. Kiara was fantastic! She worked flawlessly throughout the tour, even when we were stuck in Zermatt after a flood. I highly recommend O.U."